2016 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

City of Granite Falls
2016 Capital Improvement Projects
Roadway, Sidewalk, and Water Mains improvements happening throughout the City this summer

On Wednesday, March 16, the Granite Falls City Council awarded a contract for a series of projects to be constructed in the City this summer to Welwest Construction, Inc. The projects consist of a series of sidewalk and street improvements as well as two sections of water main replacements as follows (see red highlighted areas on aerial project map):

New sidewalks and new roadway pavement will be installed throughout the majority of the 1st Block of S. Granite Ave to replace the aging sidewalks and asphalt in the area, which will be the last phase completing the reconstruction of Granite Ave from Stanley St south to the City Limits. 95% of this project will be paid for with funding from a Transportation Improvement Board grant. The City’s 5% portion of the cost will be paid for from the City’s Streets Capital Fund, which is subsidized by the City’s annual $20 car tab fees.

A new water main will be installed to replace the aging asbestos water main located along the 1st block of S. Granite Ave. This new water line will be installed as part of the reconstruction of the road in this area. The cost associated with this water line will be paid for with funding from the City’s Capital Water Fund.

New sidewalks will be installed along with on street parking pavers and asphalt will be constructed along both sides of Wabash Ave from Stanley St south to Union St. These sidewalks will be made from pervious concrete, which will allow water to drain through utilizing low impact development techniques. The gravel parking areas currently located along the roadway will be replaced with permeable parking pavers and pervious asphalt for all on street parking along both blocks of Wabash Ave. Utilizing these “pervious” low impact development techniques will also alleviate surface water drainage issues in the area. 75% of this project will be paid for with funding from a Low Impact Development Grant from the Department of Ecology. The City’s 25% portion of the cost will be paid for from a combination of funding from the City’s Stormwater, Streets, and General Capital Improvement Funds.

A new water main will be installed to replace the aging and undersized asbestos water main located along the 1st & 2nd block of Wabash Ave. This new water line will be installed as part of the construction of the new sidewalks and on street parking in this area. The cost associated with this water line will be paid for with funding from a low interest Public Works Assistance Account Loan granted to the City from Snohomish County.

A new sidewalk and permeable parking pavers will be installed along the south side of Pioneer St from S. Kentucky Ave west to S. Granite Ave. This sidewalk will also be made from pervious concrete, which will allow water to drain through utilizing low impact development techniques. The gravel parking areas currently located along the roadway will be replaced with permeable parking pavers along the south side of Pioneer St in this area. These pervious low impact development techniques will also alleviate surface water drainage issues in the area. 75% of this project will also be paid for with funding from a Low Impact Development Grant from the Department of Ecology. The City’s 25% portion of the cost will be paid for from a combination of funding from the City’s Stormwater, Streets, and General Capital Improvement Funds.

Construction of these projects is tentatively scheduled to begin in late April/early May beginning with the 1st block of S. Granite Ave. The City has been communicating with businesses that will be affected by this construction and as such, we hope to have the S. Granite Ave portion of the project completed by the time that school is let out for the summer break to minimize the impact on their business during the busy summer season. Most of the businesses have a secondary public entrance in the back of the buildings (Buzz Inn, Ace Hardware, Laundromat, Premier Realty, Fire Station, etc), so they can remain open during the time when the sidewalk portion is being constructed in front of their buildings. The City and contractor are committed to doing everything possible to accommodate accessibility to businesses during the course of construction. These improvements, once completed, should be a welcome addition to the business owners in the area.

In addition to the projects listed above, the City will also have asphalt overlay projects resulting in new pavement on the following sections of roadway (see blue highlighted area on aerial project maps):

Mountain Loop Highway from the intersection of Quarry Rd north to the bridge at the north end of the City limits. (95% funded through a grant from the Transportation Improvement Board)

Stanley St from the intersection of Portage Ave (Chevron Station) to the intersection of Granite Ave (100% funded by the Washington State Department of Transportation)

Alder Ave from the intersection of Menzel Lk Rd/Pioneer St north to the intersection of Galena St. (funded through the City’s Streets Capital Fund via a combination of Quarry Traffic Mitigation Fees and the City’s annual $20 car tab fees)

Temporary traffic delays, detours, and road closures can be expected as contractors work through the summer to complete this long list of projects for the benefit of our community. We are excited to receive so much grant funding to support these projects and hope that everyone enjoys the results.

The City staff and Council would like to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we work through the busy construction schedule that we have planned for 2016. If you would like more detailed information on any of the projects listed, please visit our website – www.granitefallswa.gov or contact City staff at City Hall – Phone # 360-691-6441

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About Granite Falls

Granite Falls, located in the central point of Snohomish County, is situated between the South fork of the Stillaguamish River and the Pilchuck River, at the base of Mount Pilchuck. It lies approximately 17 miles northeast of Everett and I-5.